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ACFO Turns Spotlight On 'Cradle To Grave' Vehicle Best Practice At 2013 Conference

ACFO Turns Spotlight On 'Cradle To Grave' Vehicle Best Practice At 2013 Conference And The annual Conference and AGM of ACFO – the key event of the year for the UK's premier organisation for fleet decision-makers – takes on a new look for 2013 as it focuses on the cradle to grave life of a vehicle.

Traditionally a forum for discussion on fleet best practice, the 2013 Conference and AGM will be held on Thursday, May 16 at Rockingham Motor Speedway, Corby, Northamptonshire, alongside the eighth GreenFleet Arrive'n'Drive event for fleet chiefs.

This year's Conference and AGM is being sponsored by EDF Energy. The event starts at 09.45am, with registration and light refreshments available from 09:00am.

The Conference theme is 'A Day in the Life of a Vehicle – from birth to end of life' and speakers include:

– Mike Campbell, a procurement consultant specialist at PMMS Consulting Group, who will focus on a vehicle's 'birth' on to the fleet by getting the tendering, procuring and financing of models right.
– Matthew Walter, head of LeasePlan UK Consultancy Services, who will tackle the 'teenage years' including supplier relationship management and adapting to new initiatives and developments.
– Steve Huddart, service, maintenance and repair leader, GE Capital, and John Pryor, purchasing and contracts manager, Arcadia, and an ACFO director, will discuss 'middle age' and issues around vehicle maintenance, fuel management and managing relationships with manufacturers and the independent service, maintenance and repair network
– Finally, the 'twilight years' will see Jim McNally, chairman of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association's Residual Value and Remarketing Committee, and Caroline Sandall, fleet manager, Barclays, and an ACFO director, focus on managing the vehicle defleet process and end of life charges.

During the Conference, delegates will also hear from Kate Armitage, electric vehicle team manager at event sponsors EDF Energy; and Phil Robson, Peugeot's head of fleet.

ACFO director and deputy chairman Damian James, who has organised the speaker line-up, said: "Once again a top quality and highly relevant Conference programme has been compiled, which should be of interest to all fleet decision-makers whether they are professional fleet managers or 'run the fleet' against a background in HR, facilities, finance or procurement.

"The event will provide members and guests with the opportunity to hear the views of experts and obtain answers to key questions to enable them to further improve the operational effectiveness and efficiency of their fleet."

ACFO has a six-strong board of directors and there are two vacant positions arising from the retirement by rotation of Julie Jenner, key solutions manager UK, GE Capital, an ACFO director for 10 years and chairman for seven years, and Brian Ingham.

ACFO finance director Mr Ingham, who will be 65 later this year, is not standing for election. He joined ACFO in 1990 and has served as a director for 10 years having been first elected in 2003.

However, Ms Jenner is offering herself for re-election. Also contesting the election are Julie Summerell, managing director, TR Fleet, who has had a 20-year association with ACFO and is currently Midlands Region chairman; and Richard Baird, head of new business development, Marshall Leasing, who has had a 24-year association with ACFO and is London East Region chairman. The result of the ballot will be announced at the AGM.

Throughout the day there will be excellent networking opportunities for members and guest fleet operators from across the UK.

Following conclusion of the Conference and AGM at about 3pm, delegates will be able to attend the GreenFleet Arrive 'N' Drive event taking place all day at the venue. Driving slots can be booked throughout the day so delegates can get behind the wheel of the very latest low and zero emission vehicle